He has just returned from Naples; Lawence's opinions on his paintings have not been received, although he has heard the pictures were well placed in the [
Royal Academy] exhibition and praised by the critics; Lord Levison-Gower wanted to buy one, but
Eastlake told him they were all spoken for [by Bailey]; he has painted a scene with an Italian cottage,
Mr. Callcott has seen it and said it was better than works by
Collins, Callcott has been a great encouragement to him and secured him commissions; he has painted a watercolour group portrait of the daughter of
Sir Gordon Drummond and Miss Cumming; he discusses how to balance commissions with his duty to Bailey as the patron of his journey; he has been made an Associate of the
Watercolour Society.